Gas tank lock



April 4, 1944. s. GREENBERG GAS TANK LOCK Filed Marc :11 8, 1941 INVENTOR. Samuel Gave/2b ms Arro r Patented Apr. 4, 194-4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAS TANK LOCK Samuel Greenberg, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 8, 1941, Serial No. 382,313

Claims.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in gasoline tank closures and constitutes an improvement over that shown in Patent No. 2,224,385, granted to me on December 10, 1940, on a self-locking tank cap.

The present invention has for one of its principal objects the provision of an improved construction which will be highly efficient in use and economical in manufacture.

More specifically the invention has for its salient object the provision of an improved closure for gasoline tanks of automobiles wherein the closure cannot be removed and wherein the cap is securely locked in closed position to prevent the theft of gasoline from the tank.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a gasoline tank closure which may be associated with the conventional neck of the gasoline tank without modifying the latter and Without the employment of tools or the like. In other words, the closure may be applied to th neck by a person of ordinary skill.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed:

Fig. l is a bottom view of the closure embodying my invention with a portion thereof broken ing the latching means embodied in my invention; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view of the same taken substantially on line 6-8 of Fig. 5.

The drawing herein described and illustrated shows the preferred form of construction of my invention. To understand the advantages of the present invention, I will first describe the conventional neck of a gasoline tank as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. In this connection the neck is indicated at l0 and embodies the usual inturned latching lip H having a depending lug I2 adjacent the entrance path l3. This neck [0 is formed as an integral part of the tank, and it is through this neck that gasoline is fed into the tank.

My improved closur comprises a closure ring M, the marginal outer portion of which is turned down to provide a depending flange I5. The inner marginal portion of the ring [4 is likewise turned down to provide a flange l6. Between these flanges I5 and 16 there is arranged a packing or sealing washer IT. The flange l6 at opposite diametrical positions provides depending lugs l8. Each of these lugs It provides laterally parallel extending spaced ears I9. To the lug I8 between these ears I9 is pivoted as at 20 a latching dog 2|. This dog 21 is provided with an offset portion 22, the edge 23 of which is substantially concave as at 24 for reasons presently to be explained. The dog 2! is normally urged into latching position by a spring means coiled about th pivot pin 20 with one end 25 engaging one of the ears I9 and the other end 26 bearing upon the dog 2| as shown in Fig. 4.

Hinged to this closure ring M as at 21 is a self-opening cap 28 of any desired formation, but preferably including an annular depending flange 29 extending a substantial distance below the flange I5 so as to discourage and minimize the possibility of insertion of a tool to wedge the cap from locked to open position.

Centrally located within the cap 28 is a cylinder 30 and within this cylinder 30 is arranged a key barrel 3|. This key barrel is part of a lock structure comprising oppositely disposed spring-controlled lock bolts 32, each bolt having its outer end turned upwardly as at 33 and provided with tumbler slots 34 for engagement with the tumbler 35 which urges the bolts 32 from locked to unlocked position against the action of the springs 36.

Formed in the flange it at opposite diametrical points are slots 31 which permit the passage of these upturned portions 33 ofthe bolts 32 into latched engagement with the adjacent edges 38 of the flange l6 when the cap is disposed in locked position.

In applying the closure to the neck ID, the depending lugs [8 are inserted through the entrance paths l3 into the neck, with the sealing washer I'I resting upon the inturned edge of the neck. In this position the operator grasps the closure in his hand and firmly and steadily rotates the closure in a horizontal plane in a clockwise direction with respect to the neck N]. This will bring the concave portions 24 of the locking dogs 2| into engagement with the latching lip II and urge the locking dogs clockwise as seen in Fig. 5 against the'action of the spring means. Continued rotation of the closure in clockwise direction rotates the lock dogs 2| in a vertical plane and cams the lock dogs 2| against the tapered edge H of the lip H and in proportion of the distance the lock dogs move relative to the edge II' the distance from the edge H to the pivot pin 20 of the dog 2| is decreased thus tensioning the coil spring. This rotation is continued until the locking dogs 2| are disposed in the position shown in-Fig. 5. The locking dogs 2| when disposed in the position shown, place the springs of these dogs under compression and these springs in that condition will serve to constantly urge the locking dogs toward the edges H and although an effort to rotate the cover opposite to clockwise direction would normally release the pressure of the lock dog 2| against the cam edge II the coil spring is so tensioned as to keep the concaved portion 24 firmly against the edge without slipping relative thereto thus binding the cover relative to the neck portion Hi. In'this regard it will be noted in Fig. 5 that by reason of the pressure of the spring means, the lock dog 2| is constantly urged counterclockwise and that the portion 24 is set into firm engagement with the edge H in such a manner that when an attempt is made to rotate the cover I i counterclockwise the swing of the dog 2| relative to its pivot 20 is greater in proportion to the increase in distance from the pivot 29 to the edge II, the dog 2| thus forming a strut member which binds the cover against counterclockwise rotation.

Tocomplete the invention I provide between the closure ring M and the cap 28 a sealing Washer 40. This sealing washer 4|] is carried by the cap and encircles the cylinder 30.

From the description herein it is manifest that I provide a closure which is firmly held in position upon the neck by a means which is of simple structure and economical in manufacture. It is also apparent that I provide a closure ring adapted for permanent attachment to the neck of a receptacle or .tank with a self-locking closure cap, which cap is also self-opening when unlocked.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a closure member for receptacles having a tubular neck including an inwardly extending rim with a downwardly disposed flange, said flange having notched out portions and a shoulder extension formed adjacent thereto with the lower edge of said flange increasing in depth fromthe notched portion to the opposite shoulder, in combination a closure ring including oppositely disposed depending lugs, a locking member pivotally arranged on said lugs, pivot means mounting the locking member on said lug, said locking member having its free end portion disposed to be engaged by the lower edge of said flange when the closure ring is rotated in one direction on said neck, and spring means between said depending lug and said locking member and urging said locking member into engage ment with said lower edge of said flange to pre vent rotative movement of the closure ring in a direction opposite to said first named direction.

2. In a closure member for receptacles having a tubular neck including an inwardly extending rim with a downwardly disposed flange, said flange having notched out portions and a shoulder extension formed adjacent thereto with the lower edge of said flange increasing in depth from the notched portion to the opposite shoulder, in combination a closure ring including oppositely disposed depending lugs, a locking member pivotally arranged on each of said lugs, pivot means mounting the locking member on said lug, said locking member having its free end portion disposed to be engaged by the lower edge of said flange when the closure ring is rotated in one direction on said neck, and spring means on said pivot means and having one end anchored on said depending lug and its opposite end in engagement with said locking member urging said locking member into engagement with said lower edge of said flange to prevent rotative movement of the closure ring in a direction opposite to said first named direction.

3. In a closure member for receptacles having a tubular neck including an inwardly extending rim with a downwardly disposed flange, said flange having notched out portions and a shoulder extension formed adjacent thereto with the lower edge of said flange increasing in depth from the notched portion to the opposite shoulder, in combination a closure ring including oppositely disposed depending lugs, a locking member pivotally arranged on the exterior face of each of said lugs, pivot means mounting the locking members on said lugs, stop means on the exterior face of said lugs and adapted to limit rotative movement of said locking member, said locking member having its free end portion disposed to be engaged by the lower edge of said flange when the closure ring is rotated in one direction of said neck, and spring means arranged on said pivot means between the locking member and one of said stop means and adapted to urge said locking member into engagement with said lower edge of said flange to prevent rotative movement of the closure ring in a direction opposite to said first named direction.

4. In a closure member for receptacles having a tubular neck including an inwardly extending 'rim with a downwardly disposed flange, said flange having notched out portions and a shoulder extension formed adjacent thereto with the lower edge of said flange increasing in depth from the notched portion to the opposite shoulder, in combination a closure ring including oppositely disposed depending lugs, a locking member pivotally arranged on the exterior face of each of said lugs, pivot means mounting the locking members on said lugs, stop means on the exterior face of said lugs, and adapted to limit rotative movement of said locking member, said locking member having its free end portion disof the closure ring in a direction opposite to said first named direction.

5. In combination with the neck of a gasoline tank having a locking rim, including an internal flange with opposite notches and stopping shoulders adjoining each notch, said flange having a cam edge depending therefrom and increasing in depth from one end near one of said notches to an opposite end near one of said shoulders, a closure ring for said neck and including oppositely disposed parallelly extending supporting lugs extending below said rim when said closure ring is disposed on said neck, locking dogs and pivot means carried by said lugs to' dispose said locking dogs for rotative movement in the direction of said cam edge, spring means arranged between said supporting lugs and said locking dogs to urge the latter into cammed arrangement with said cam edge whereby to permit rotation of said closure ring in one direction relative to said neck, said locking dogs forming strut means between said cam edge and said pivot means and adapted to bindingly swing toward said cam edge a distance greater in proportion with respect to the increase in distance from the pivot means to said flange when said closure ring is rotated in an opposite direction relative to said neck.

SAMUEL GREENBERG. 

